[Meckel's diverticulum. Study of 61 cases].
BACKGROUND
Meckel's diverticulum is a well known disease in children. The main clinical presentations are rectal bleeding and intestinal occlusion.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency, main clinical symptoms, signs, complications, localization, histology and diagnosis in a population of mexican children.


METHODS
We studied 61 children who were seen at the Instituto Nacional de Pediatria, Mexico City, during a period of 10 years. The age, sex, symptoms, complications, hematocrit, 99mTc-Pertechnetate scanning, histology, and localization of Meckel's diverticulum were analyzed in all of them.


RESULTS
15 children were female and 46 male (1:3). In infants the main clinical finding was rectal bleeding. Intestinal occlusion was the most common clinical expression in older children. Gastric mucosa was a common finding in the diverticulum of children with rectal bleeding in contrast to ileal mucosa in children with intestinal occlusion. 99mTc-pertechnetate scanning with previous administration of H2 blocking agent was the best diagnostic procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Meckel's diverticulum must be considered an emergency in children. Meckel's diverticulum, has to be ruled cut as in infants with significant bleeding, as well as in children with intestinal occlusion. The best method for diagnosis is 99mTc-pertechnetate scanning.
Zárate Mondragón
F E
FE
Servicio de Gastroenterología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, México, D.F.
Ramírez Mayans
J A
JA
Cervantes Bustamante
R
R
Urquidi Rivera
M
M
Mata Rivera
N
N
Vargas Gómez
M A
MA
Avila Ramírez
E
E
Mora Tiscareño
M A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Divertículo de Meckel. Estudio de 61 casos.